Clinical waste disposal
Clinical waste
Clinical waste is any waste that poses a threat of infection to humans. The term also includes drugs or other pharmaceutical products. It is mainly produced by hospitals, health clinics, doctors' surgeries and veterinary practices, but also it can be generated at home.
Examples of clinical waste include:
- Human or animal tissue.
- Blood or other bodily fluids.
- Drugs or other pharmaceutical products.
- Swabs or dressings.
- Syringes, needles or other sharp instruments.
Syringes
People who have a requirement for the disposal of syringes should seek advice in the first instance from their local Health Centre, Health Visitor or their local chemist. Where needles are provided you should also be provided with a 'sharps box' in which to store used needles. Ask the supplier of the sharps box for more information regarding its safe disposal.
Nappies
Nappies are not classified as clinical waste and do not need to be collected separately from your house. Either use modern cotton Real Nappies (see link) or wrap them carefully and dispose of them with your normal refuse collection.
If you are in a nursery, nappies collected separately are clinical waste. You should contact your local council for more advice (see link) or look in the yellow pages for waste collection companies.
Excretions
Excretions are no longer classified as clinical waste and do not need to be collected separately from your house. They can be disposed of with your normal refuse collection.
What should I do with clinical waste?
You should never dispose of any clinical waste along with your normal domestic refuse. Shropshire Waste Partnership offers a free clinical waste collection for clinical waste collected from domestic premises. Please call 0845 678 9009 for more advice. If you live in the Shrewsbury area you should contact Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council.
Household recycling centres
You cannot dispose of clinical waste at any of the Shropshire's household recycling centres. Clinical waste is not counted as household waste.
